Captain William Bing Emerson

Captain William "Bing" Emerson served as an aircraft commander in Marine CH-46 Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM-265). On Nov. 20,1968 he and his copilot 1/Lt.Jack Harrell, 2 crew members,and 3 infantrymen took off from Marble Mountain airfield in Da Nang. They were part of Operation Meade River and the largest helicopter troop lift in Marine Corps history.They were the last helicopter in the formation. Approaching 'LZ Ross' west of Da Nang their aircraft (EP-08) was struck by intense ground fire and crashed, killing all but the crew chief and mechanic (who were critically injured) Captain Emerson was a highly respected and liked officer,and a capable pilot. He received his pilots wings on 8-18-1967

Sixteen days before his death he earned the Silver Star medal for valor in rescuing a Marine reconnaissance team from being overrun by overwhelming North Vietnamese forces. Bing grew up in Concord, Massachusetts, one of 8 kids. He graduated from Harvard University before joining the Marines.

Silver Star

Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain William Emerson (MCSN: 0-93908), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-265), Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-SIX (MAG-36), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 4 November 1968, Captain Emerson launched as Section Leader of a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency extraction of a Marine reconnaissance team that had captured an enemy soldier and was being pursued by a large North Vietnamese Army force southwest of DaNang. Arriving over the designated area, he was requested to attempt a hoist extraction of the prisoner, and as he entered the zone and commenced a hover, his aircraft came under a heavy volume of hostile automatic weapons fire, forcing him to abort the extractions attempt. After refueling and rearming at An Hoa, Captain Emerson returned to the hazardous area and, observing a potential landing zone, guided the ground unit to the designated position while calmly providing the patrol with words of encouragement. When the Marines arrived at the site, they informed Captain Emerson that the zone was unsuitable for landing. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he unhesitatingly elected to attempt the extraction and, skillfully maneuvering his aircraft in an evasive approach to avoid detection by the enemy, fearlessly entered the area and hovered with the loading ramp resting on an abandoned hostile bunker. As the patrol embarked, the aircraft came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire supporting an assault by a large North Vietnamese Army force. Disregarding his own safety, Captain Emerson steadfastly maintained his dangerously exposed position while directing armed helicopters in attacking the advancing enemy, forcing them to withdraw. When the hostile force delivered anti-tank rocket fire at his aircraft, he ignored the rounds impacting nearby and calmly waited until all the team members were on board, and then rapidly departed the hazardous area. By his courage, superior aeronautical ability and unwavering devotion to duty, Captain Emerson inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. Action Date: 4-Nov-1968

Service: Marine Corps

Rank: Captain

Company: Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265)

Division: 1st Marine Aircraft Wing